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Abstract
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Gun related violence in the US is complicated, nuanced, emotional, politically toxic, culturally complex and highly polarizing. In short, it is one of the most intractable issues in American political and social life. The periodicity of the gun related tragedies seems to have resulted in a certain numbness, bereft of emotionalism and sensitivity. All that one sees are the lighting of candles, placing of flowers, and making emotional eulogies. This is necessary, but in no way compensates for the enormity of these tragedies. Over the past few decades, thousands of innocent lives, including young innocent children have been man slaughtered for no fault of theirs. Guns are now one of the leading causes for the death of children in the US. The state authorities have been virtually reduced to mute spectators, leaving many questions unanswered. Has individual freedom resulted in the freedom to kill? Is gun ownership a right for all Americans or just a minor militia? Can lose gun laws be construed as institutionalized murder? These are some of the critical issues that need to be addressed.
Wide civilian ownership of firearms legally and/or illegally has been the primary cause for gun violence. The statistics emerging out of the Gun Violence Archive says it all. About a third of the adults in the US have guns. America has one of the highest levels of gun ownership and gun violence. Gun ownership and homicide rates are very high in the US. There is a link between ownership of guns and violence, which has been proved through various studies. The US ratio of firearms per 1000 residents stands at 120 followed by Yemen 52, Serbia 39, Montenegro 39, Uruguay 32 and Canada 32. Even more disconcerting is that of all the murders in the US, 60% were by firearms, compared to 31% in Canada, 18% in Australia and 10% in the UK. In the US, there are 4.12 deaths per 100,000 which is forty times higher than the UK. On a per capita basis US gun related murders is thirty times that of the UK.
Studies have shown that jihadi terrorists get their guns largely through criminal connections, whereas the rightwing terrorists procure their guns through legal means using the internet and even assembling of firearms. In the European Union there are currently 25-million-gun owners, who together possess up to 80 million guns. Presently almost 6700 people die in the EU as a result of gun wounds every year (most of these being impulsive suicides), compared to approximately 47,000 deaths in the US. The majority of gun deaths are suicides.
Online sales and 'ghost guns' have added to the problem. Among those below the age of twenty, gun violence accounts for over 7% of the deaths in the US. There has been a historic spike in homicides in the US too, along with domestic violence, community violence and mass shootings. Unfortunately, many of these firearms have found their way into the hands of criminal groups and terrorists. In the US even background checks are not always needed to purchase a gun. This is the outcome of poor enforcement and legal loopholes. More guns in the US means more deaths (German Lopez, May 22, 2022)
Language: en |